The Fall of Plaguestone

Game Master Kevin O'Rourke 440

This information seems to make Sool perk up a bit and pay more attention.

"Interesting. A goblin-sized crawl space designed to crush anyone who goes through it? I think our scarred man might be trying to take care of an inconvenient witness. Which means that there's probably no one here any longer. Still, there might be a clue left behind."

"Can you disarm it?"

"Death trap tunnel? No thanks. Why don't we head inside through the back window? Maybe there's another way to get wherever the tunnel leads without me being turned into a pancake."

"Right place or not, whoever lives here is a big jerk! They need a pummelling!"

Checking around the area you can't find any other way down except going through the crawlspace or taking the time to disassemble the debris and excavate the area.

Does Emri think she could avoid triggering the floor-pressure-plate if she did some snazzy acrobatics/athletics to go over that part, using the walls as hand and footholds? Or is it too tight of a squeeze for that to be likely?

Morsun uses both hands to make a 'calm down' motion towards Sool and Emri.

"Let me check it out."

He ties one end of his rope to his ankle and hands the other end to Throkk. "If the tunnel collapses, try and pull me out, big guy."

No stranger to cramped, trapped tunnels,* he squirms closer to the rigged floor board and tries to disarm the trap.

Thievery/Disable a Device: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

* Backstory reference! *finger guns*

Reading up on traps for 2E. If this requires multiple successes, feel free to roll for me, Kevin.

Emri could as she is small sized

Morsun disables the trap and continues beyond the turn, the crawlway continues for another ten feet before opening up into a small chamber that appears to have once been a closet. The door leaving the space is barred by debris on the other side and cannot be opened, but there is a hatch built into the floor. It is very old, but free from debris and dust. The hatch is not locked, but the hinge is terribly rusted.

Opening it without making any noise requires a successful DC 18 Thievery check, although applying oil to the hinge reduces this to DC 12.

With Morsun leading the way, Emri shimmies through the tunnel after him.

As Emri joins Morsun in the closet, he directs her attention to the hatch and meets her eyes to question if she's ready for him to open it.

Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Morsun doesn't have any oil.

Sool watches as first Morsun and then Emri disappear from sight crawling into the debris.

"The building didn't collapse. I suppose that's a good sign." he says after a tense minute of silence.

Sazen responds

Not sure how we're going to get them out if they get caught down there.

Sool nods impassively. "Yes. Puzzling." he says in a rather far-away voice. Then he glances at Sazen. "Well, I suppose we can always pull apart all that debris, if we have to. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." He brushes off his tunic with a flick of his hand, sending a fly back into the air.

Two less mouths to feed, I suppose, if it doesn't work out.

She looks at Sool out of the corner of her eye, wondering if her attempt at humor will fall flat.

Sool raises an eyebrow and looks at Sazen. "However can you think of food at a time like this?" he asks. Then he turns back to watching the rubble. "Seems a trifle heartless." he observes.

There might be, just perhaps, the faintest glimmer of a smirk on one corner of his mouth.

Emri nods at Morsun.

She's ready for anything!

...Or, she thinks she is, anyway...

Throkk grins at Morsun's comment, entirely fine with yanking the dwarf back out if needed.

The old wooden door swings open (silently) on rusted hinges, revealing a room lit by a single, flickering torch. Through the gloom you see piles of small crates and more than a few barrels stacked up haphazardly on the south side of the room. Opposite you is a stout wooden door with iron bands, while the north side of the room is bare save for an iron gate set into the middle of the wall. The stench of smoke and damp dog hangs heavy in the air.

Not expecting to see another room beneath this trap door, Morsun whispers to Emri that they should get the others. Maybe they could unbar the closet door (quietly) to make things easier for the others to access the hatch.

Throkk waits, idly wondering if he shouldn't yank the rope now, just in case.

As Morsun talks to Emri both of them notice the iron gate begins to rise... several growls begin to come from inside. There is a gap beneath it of one inch from the floor now.

"You get them," Emri tells Morsun as she hops out of the tunnel and adopts a defensive stance. "I'll keep the exit safe. No good getting help if a pile of mangy dogs bite the help's faces off."

Finish crawling out of the tunnel, stand, dragon stance.

Morsun thinks leaving Emri here alone is a bad idea, but also only a slightly better idea than stopping to argue about it. He hustles back through the tunnel and starts talking before the elf and two humans have a chance to even fully register he's back.

"Tunnel leads to that door," he begins, pointing at the closet door blocked with debris. "Found a trapdoor with another level beneath this house. A gate down there just opened, and somethings that growls are coming out. Emri is guarding the trapdoor."

Kevin, any insight on if the tunnel or clearing the debris would be faster?

The tunnel would be faster unless someone got a really good roll at athletics like DC22

Emri can see four vicious dogs trying to squeeze their heads under the gate as it rises watching her.

"Fascinating." says Sool with a lilt of actual interest in his voice. He turns to Throkk.

"Growling things are your department I believe. After you."

He gestures to the tunnel graciously.

"Finally!"

Throkk needs little encouragement and powers towards the tunnel.

Sazen follows Throkk, helping to move stuff aside.

Emri gives the dogs a loud snarl and bares her fangs. (Emri has Intimidating Glare. She can Demoralize with a mere glare. When she does, Demoralize loses the auditory trait and gains the visual trait, and she don’t take a penalty if the creature doesn’t understand her language.

Intimidation (to demoralize): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Then she looks around for a lever to shut the gate.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Tunnel order: Throkk, Sazen, Morsun, Sool? If Sool wants to go before Morsun, no problem.

Sool is quite content to bring up the rear.

One of the dogs backs off a little but the others start to get their heads and shoulders beneath the iron gate.

Emri sees no mechanism for controlling the gate.

Emri you've got one turn while they are restrained then we'll be going into the initiative but the rest of the party wont be able to help for a bit while they are in the crawlspace.

Throkk powers on, humming tuneleasly to himself as he does so.

While the dogs are restrained by the gate...

Seeing no way to shut the gate, Emri pulls out a vial from her belt pouch and tosses it at the dog's muzzles! As it lands the vial explodes in a burst of fire!

Alcehmist's Fire: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Fire Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Plus 1 persistent fire damage and 1 fire splash damage.

Then she pulls out another vial (minor healing potion), holding it in her hand as she prepares to fight.

I feel like she's going to need that potion... Haha.

The alchemists fire clangs off the bars but each of the dogs is singed... as the gate rises more they begin to squeeze under the iron gate.

Emri Perception. AC18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Morson Perception. AC18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Sool Perception. AC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Sazen Perception. AC17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Throkk Perception. AC18: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Monster Perception. AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Emri
Dogs All -1

GM, assuming that each of us is trying to get to the combat area ASAP, it might be helpful to know which of us in any given rounds are actually present and able to act. Otherwise I'll be posting 'Sool crawls' each round til further notice. :)

You'll note only Emri on the initiative track for now, I'll add ye when ye reach the top of the ladder.

Emri takes a quick Step forward and pivots, sending a Flurry of kicks right at the face of the red dog trying to squirm his way out from under the gate.

Flurry of Blows 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
B Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Flurry of Blows 2: 1d20 + 7 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 5 + 1 = 14 +1 is from the backswing trait)
B Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 5

Then she tries to stomp on the red dog, bringing her foot down on its face!

Strike: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 10 = 17 (+1 higher if the previous attack missed.)
Critical B Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Step, Flurry of Blows, Strike.

Emri takes a quick Step forward and pivots, sending a Flurry of kicks right at the face of the red dog trying to squirm his way out from under the gate.

Then she tries to stomp on the red dog, bringing her foot down on its face!

The vicious pack of dogs begin to circle and snap at her sometimes drawing blood as they do so.
Red Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 1 = 5
Red Jaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Red Jaw: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (10) - 4 = 6
Yellow Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Yellow Jaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Green Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 1 = 6
Green Jaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Orange Jaw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Orange Jaw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Sool
Morson
Emri
Throkk
Sazen
Dogs. AC15 Red -6, Yellow -1, Green -1, Orange -1

Everyone can act now. You'll need to use up twenty foot of movement to get to the bottom of the ladder

"Ouch!" Emri exclaims, chugging down her potion.

Healing Emri: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Dropping the bottle, she launches another pair of kicks at the red dog!

Flurry of Blows 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
B Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Flurry of Blows 2: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 5 = 10 (+1 higher if the first attack missed).
B Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Then she draws back her hand and punches the red dog in back!

Strike: 1d20 + 7 - 8 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 8 = 1 (lowered penalty b/c her fist is agile).

Sool moves forward and sees Emri being swarmed by dogs. "I'm more of a cat person." he says, oddly. Then he casts a spell.

Casting Sleep, targeting the burst toward the center of the room so it gets Green and Orange and NOT Emri.

Throkk excitedly rushes forward, his greataxe in hand and whooping!

"Here I come! You're going to get hit!"

1. Move! 2. Move 3. Strike!

HP 21/22 with Drain 1

Greataxe Strike vs Green Dog: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 3 = 26

Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Sazen moves down the ladder, draws her bow, and tries to hit Green.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 1 = 19
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Morsun shimmies down the ladder and then uses the cover provided by Sazen, Throkk, and Emri to set himself up for a lethal strike.

Stealth/Hide: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Sool moves forward and sees Emri being swarmed by dogs. "I'm more of a cat person." he says, oddly. Then he casts a spell. The dogs get a little groggy but their hunger outweighs the mystically induced sleep.
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Morsun shimmies down the ladder and then uses the cover provided by Sazen, Throkk, and Emri to set himself up for a lethal strike.

"Ouch!" Emri exclaims, chugging down her potion.

Dropping the bottle, she launches another pair of kicks at the dog!

Then she draws back her hand and punches the red dog in back! The dog crumples to the ground in a heap.

Throkk excitedly rushes forward, his greataxe in hand and whooping!

"Here I come! You're going to get hit!" ...another dog collapses.

Sazen moves down the ladder, draws her bow, and tries to hit one of the remaining dogs.

Paniced by the sudden appearance of more people and the deaths of half their number the two surviving dogs move to cower and whine in the corner.

Sool
Morson
Emri
Throkk
Sazen
Dogs. AC15 Yellow -3, Orange -1, -1 Perception for 1 Round

Sool moves into the room, looks at the cowering, whining dogs and shakes his head. "Well, this is a charming little spot. I don't suppose anyone brought any food with them? I'm guessing a few rations will make them forget their taste for halfling."

Doubting that anyone is going to take the time to befriend and train these dogs to not hunt sentient creatures, Sazen believes they need to be put down, so she moves to a better spot and shoots again.

Attack Yellow: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 1 = 21
Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

They need to be put down, or they are going to back at it, trying to kill someone.

"They're dying!", calls Throkk, charging in.

1) Move 2) Strike 3) Strike

Greataxe Strike 1: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 3 = 8

Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Greataxe Strike 2: 1d20 + 4 + 3 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 3 - 5 = 20

Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Sool looks on a little impatiently as the dog fight continues on. He looks around briefly for a place to sit down, but seems quickly dissuaded from such a rash course of action in such a filthy place.

Instead he wanders across the room and checks the next door.

Not opening it-leaving that for the rogue- just looking

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

They need to be put down, or they are going to back at it, trying to kill someone.

"Uh..."

Sword in hand, Morsun stayed where he was, not ready for the tone of the battle to shift as rapidly as it ded. He was not expecting Sazen to assert for killing the cowering beasts. Her hurried reasoning is sound, he guesses, but it doesn't sit right with himm.

Sool moves into the room, looks at the cowering, whining dogs and shakes his head. "Well, this is a charming little spot. I don't suppose anyone brought any food with them? I'm guessing a few rations will make them forget their taste for halfling."

"They're dying!", calls Throkk, charging in.

Doubting that anyone is going to take the time to befriend and train these dogs to not hunt sentient creatures, Sazen believes they need to be put down, so she moves to a better spot and shoots again.

"They need to be put down, or they are going to back at it, trying to kill someone."

The last one is badly injured at this point so going to say it goes down, not sure if Emri would have done it and don't want to push the character into that position.

Sool looks on a little impatiently as the dog fight continues on. He looks around briefly for a place to sit down, but seems quickly dissuaded from such a rash course of action in such a filthy place.

Instead he wanders across the room and checks the next door. Sool finds the door has no traps he can see but looks sturdy and is locked.

Sorry for the delay, weekend got crazy. And yes, I think in the middle of a fight she probably would have finished off the dogs. Out of a fight she might have had a different opinion.

Free from danger, Emri offers Sazen and Throkk a fist bump. "Thanks! You saved my bacon!"

Emri dusts herself off. "Huh. Came out of that better than I thought I would." She chuckles, then looks around. "Well, this place stinks."